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February 14, 2014

Raymond James Adds $100M Team; $84M Rep Returns to Securities America

The team joins from Wells Fargo, while the advisor comes back after departing from Valmark Securities

Raymond James (RJF) says it has recruited a Wells Fargo (WFC) team, while Securities America (LTS) shared the news that one of its affiliated advisors had come back to the independent broker-dealer.

Joining Raymond James’ employee channel in Blue Ash, Ohio, are advisors David Rodrigo, CFP and CPA, and Jason Goldberg, CFP. The team, which now does business as the Goldberg and Rodrigo Financial Group of Raymond James, has managed more than $100 million in client assets and had $900,000 in annual fees and commissions.

“We are pleased to welcome these successful advisors to our Blue Ash office,” said divisional director Bill Roney of Raymond James, in a statement on Wednesday. “They have grown their business over the years with a strong client-first focus and attitude, a premise that aligns with our values here at Raymond James. We look forward to supporting their efforts, practice and in turn, their clients.”

Goldberg has more than 16 years of industry experience and worked as an advisor at A.G. Edwards before it merged into Wachovia and then Wells Fargo Advisors. Rodrigo began his financial services career as a CPA at an international accounting firm. He joined A.G. Edwards in 2006.

“There were several things that attracted us to Raymond James,” said Rodrigo, in a press release. “But to sum it up, we felt that Raymond James was going to allow us the freedom and flexibility we need to manage our practice in a way that allows both us and our clients to succeed. The firm offers access to well-known equity research, mobile technology, social media and custom websites – all components we feel will help our business grow.”

Raymond James Financial has more than 6,200 financial advisors worldwide and total client assets of about $447 billion.

Securities America

The IBD, which is part of Ladenburg Thalmann, said yesterday that Paul Merz is now doing business with it again in Yakima, Wash.

Merz joined Securities America in 2006 as part of Prospera Wealth Management. He left the broker-dealer after Prospera was acquired in 2010 by a larger regional group and joined Valmark Securities.

Prior to his return to Securities America last month, Merz managed $84 million in client assets that generated more than $780,000 in annual revenue. He was with Citigroup/Smith Barney from 1998 to 2006.

“We are proud to welcome Paul Merz back to the Securities America family,” said Gregg Johnson, senior vice president of branch office development and acquisitions, in a statement. “Paul is our fifth top advisor to return to Securities America in the past six months, and the reason we hear most often from these advisors is their desire to ‘come home.’ ”

Securities America has more than 1,700 independent advisors responsible for $50 billion in client assets.

“I'm very happy and excited to be back with Securities America,” said Merz, in a press release. “Before leaving, I was utilizing the Managed Opportunities platform, and I recently reached a point in my career where I want to offer my clients what I consider to be one of the best managed-money platforms available.”

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